¥In 1492 Spain emerges as a
united Christian
country and Columbus discovers
the New World.
¥But after a couple hundred
years of wars
the influence and quality of Spanish
wine suffers. By the middle of the
19th century even Rioja
is having trouble
selling wine outside of Spain and
South America.
¥Then the big killers,
phylloxera and powdery
mildew strike, but move slowly
through SpainÕs sparsely-planted
regions, and give the French time
to arrive with the cures. The French
also bring their grape varieties, the
new hygienic methods of Louis Pasteur,
and many traditions, including
barrel ageing, and the Champagne
method.
¥The DO (Denominacion de
Origen) system
is introduced in 1926.
¥Civil War. 2nd World War.